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In a major step toward strengthening India’s agri-logistics and reducing post-harvest losses, the Government of India is rolling out the “World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan in the Cooperative Sector”, aimed at building decentralized and scientific storage infrastructure across the country. The ambitious initiative, approved on May 31, 2023, is currently being implemented in pilot mode with a strong focus on empowering Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) and cooperative institutions. The plan seeks to address the chronic shortage of storage capacity for food grains by creating a network of modern agri-infrastructure at the grassroots level. This includes the development of warehouses (godowns), custom hiring centres, processing units, and fair price shops. The scheme is being executed through the convergence of multiple existing government programs such as the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure (AMI), Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM), and PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME). To make the initiative financially viable for cooperatives, the government has introduced several key reforms. Under the AIF scheme, PACS receive interest subvention on loans taken for warehouse construction, while AMI provides a subsidy of up to 33.33% for building storage facilities. The margin money requirement has been reduced from 20% to 10%, and construction cost norms have been significantly revised to reflect current market realities—₹7,000 per metric tonne in plain areas and ₹8,000 per metric tonne in northeastern regions. Additionally, cooperatives are eligible for extra subsidy support for ancillary infrastructure such as internal roads, weighbridges, and boundary walls. A major incentive under the plan is the extension of credit guarantee coverage under AIF from 2+5 years to 2+8 years. Combined with NABARD’s refinance support and 3% interest subvention, the effective interest rate for PACS is brought down to nearly 1%, making it highly attractive for grassroots institutions to participate. To ensure project viability, agencies such as the Food Corporation of India (FCI), NAFED, NCCF, and state food departments provide a 9-year hiring assurance for warehouses developed under the scheme. A structured Standard Operating Procedure (Margdarshika) guides implementation, starting from the identification of suitable PACS with adequate land by state cooperative departments, followed by approvals from District Cooperative Development Committees and preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs). Once financing is secured through District Central Cooperative Banks, construction is expected to be completed within six months. The plan also integrates cold chain development under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), enabling cooperatives to establish cold storage units, pack houses, and refrigerated transport systems to support fruit and vegetable supply chains. As per the latest status (January 20, 2026), 560 cooperative societies have been identified, out of which 426 have submitted DPRs and 120 projects have been completed, creating a total storage capacity of 72,702 metric tonnes. Rajasthan has emerged as a leading state with 91 completed projects and a capacity of 45,250 MT, followed by Maharashtra with 16 completed projects. Other states such as Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu have also made initial progress, while several states are yet to begin implementation. Additionally, central agencies have identified 378 districts across India with a storage gap of 46.92 lakh metric tonnes, highlighting the vast potential and need for expansion under the scheme. The initiative represents a transformative move toward decentralizing food storage, reducing wastage, improving farmers’ income, and strengthening rural economies. The information was shared by Union Minister for Home and Cooperation, Amit Shah, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.